Driving an overengineered German SUV

CAN PERFECTION BE OVERKILL?

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

IF THERE WERE a book called The Art of Car, the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line could be on the cover page. It is so well engineered — in NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), power delivery, driving pleasure, suspension, handling — that you wouldn't desire anything else in a car.

But take a test drive, and you may realize there is much more to engineering when it comes to a car.

What is it?

The Tiguan R-Line is a high-performance urban SUV — fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that churns out 204 PS of power and 320 Nm of torque. At 4,539 mm in length, 1,859 mm in width, and 1,656 mm in height, it is slightly bigger than Hyundai Creta and smaller than Skoda Kodiaq.

How does it drive?